Chapter 13: Secrets Beneath the Surface
Lacy ran her fingers along the worn book spines, inhaling the scent of aged paper as she wandered the quiet aisles of the Book Nook. The bell above the door chimed, signaling a new arrival. Lacy barely glanced up, too absorbed in her search for something—anything—that might help them understand the strange things happening in Calypso Bay.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdewsyUnBF9
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVWBHXUk22
Lacy turned, startled by the presence of a woman she hadn't noticed before. She had long, dark waves of hair with hints of blue when the light caught it just right, and her sea-green eyes seemed to hold an entire ocean's worth of secrets. The woman's presence was oddly calming, yet something about her felt ancient, as if she had existed long before Calypso Bay itself.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdQsxCS6tR
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrX6oORZ2b
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxP8Yo9w9s
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidKapf3g9x
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcogh7j4g6F
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtGvzCOKRr
"Be careful who you trust, Lacy," Thalassa said, her voice lowering. "Maddie Holloway isn't who she pretends to be. If you want to protect Chrissy, stay away from her."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C4PeA2l1J
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RVU4CyHBe
Thalassa didn't answer. Instead, she took Lacy's wrist, gently fastening a bracelet around it. The centerpiece was an aquamarine gemstone, encased by iridescent cowrie shells that shimmered in the dim light. The moment it touched Lacy's skin, a strange warmth spread up her arm.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0uqRWq9vC
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBr4zrdMRV
Before Lacy could ask another question, Thalassa gave her one last look and slipped out the door, disappearing as if she had never been there at all.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFEXjHTBLn
⸻200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJXJCc5r9I
Kyle sat cross-legged on the beach, frowning at the assortment of waterproof bags spread out in front of him. Nick stood nearby, arms crossed.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR5ibZ1pvy
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNl5IIUBWd
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSePC0lLQo
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2of42ut6SN
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjGM8x9q4A
"Why not?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNiNfDDaDJ
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4qlYZTSxp
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDcPqgojbM
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ETcRytSv7
"Overthinking," Nick warned.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCCB7oQeAi
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2mGBmxQQJ
As they debated the best way to waterproof Chrissy's food, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see a woman standing at the edge of the beach, watching them with amusement.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqgVh2N27Z
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL0udjq75M
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5IQpYmvXg
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsnQmtjuxd
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkf2YQmJBJ
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GyG9MMzmS
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1fkI1UGA5
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lA46vXOHh
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60FEFzPy0H
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7GRXuBB3L
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMp0YZSVUP
⸻200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPO2hqDU9x
Nick entered the Book Nook, brushing sand off his hands. He barely had time to register the quiet atmosphere before Lacy grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the back of the store.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU2u9lAKH8
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymUneHB8RR
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU2NH5pusq
Lacy glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "A woman—Thalassa—came in earlier. She knew about Chrissy, Nick. And she warned me about Maddie."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5r6uPgPME
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo1TjmB7mm
"She told me Maddie isn't who she pretends to be," Lacy said. "And then she gave me this." She lifted her wrist, revealing the bracelet with the aquamarine gemstone. "She said Chrissy needs it."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsfAa9t2dc
Nick stared at it, his mind racing. It looked eerily similar to the compass-like artifact Chrissy had found. "You're sure she just gave it to you?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxooQ8imgU
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuwUQ1j5HS
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg145I6UbPb
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsmoJ1Yc2G
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrquiEie3u3
⸻200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIzHH0CrQX
Later that evening, Lacy found herself in the upstairs section of the Book Nook, running her fingers along the spines of old books. Something caught her eye—a thick, leather-bound volume titled The Genealogical Trees of the Founding Families of Calypso Bay.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VMfJCu2Wp
Curious, she pulled it from the shelf and flipped through its pages. The names were neatly arranged in alphabetical order. She skimmed through them until she reached the "H" section.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJd3ycYkkN
Her breath caught.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB22qUjOmQ
Holloway.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFMBuP8Iga
Her stomach twisted. Maddie had sworn her family was new to town. But if her last name was in this book, that meant her family had been part of Calypso Bay for generations.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie9O3vq7Zh
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZyDzxah5u
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGi3nZvTnz
⸻200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eqSMSeXHa
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcxhzAJEA1
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaAQiDkmfB
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOvJzpmeuN
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfiY632cSD
Nick's mind clicked into place, the realization hitting him like a wave. "It's her. Thalassa. The same woman who warned Lacy about Maddie."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcBoP5D8fk
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9EKDulWD0
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yLCvhOcEt
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzhg3fZxNh
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyJWCGF6fN
然後按「加至主畫面」